Iran Launches Digital Welfare Revolution with New “Simin” Platform
In a significant step towards modernizing its social safety net, Iran has launched a new digital system named “Simin,” marking the first major initiative in a comprehensive digital transformation of the country’s welfare services. The platform, introduced by the Subsidy Targeting Organization, is designed to streamline and unify all processes related to cash subsidies for citizens.
A Leap Towards a Digital Welfare State
The launch of the Simin system represents a cornerstone of Iran’s strategy to digitize public services. The key objectives of this ambitious project are to reduce in-person bureaucratic procedures, enhance transparency, and increase overall citizen satisfaction. By creating a single, integrated platform, the government aims to bridge the gap between citizens and service providers, ensuring a more efficient allocation of state resources.
According to Alireza Mousavi Delkhosh, head of the organization’s Information Technology Center, Simin serves as the starting point for digital reforms within the national welfare system. This centralized platform is engineered to simplify complex procedures that were previously manual and time-consuming.
Seamless Integration and Automated Accuracy
A core strength of the Simin system is its sophisticated technical architecture. Built on a service-oriented framework, it seamlessly interfaces with other critical government databases, including the National Organization for Civil Registration, the Planning and Budget Organization, and the national banking network. This interoperability is crucial for minimizing errors and ensuring the fair and accurate distribution of subsidies.
For citizens, this translates into tangible benefits. One of the most notable features is the ability to register or change a bank account for subsidy deposits entirely online. The system automatically validates the provided account details with the Central Bank, ensuring payments are sent directly to the legitimate head of the household and preventing errors.
Empowering Citizens with Transparency and Control
The platform offers households unprecedented visibility and management over their benefits. By linking directly with the Civil Registration database, Simin provides an accurate, real-time view of family structure. Changes such as marriage, divorce, births, or deaths are immediately reflected, ensuring that subsidy amounts are always calculated correctly based on the current number of family members.
Beneficiaries can now also access a suite of self-service features, including:
- Tracking Payments: View the exact deposit date, a detailed breakdown of the subsidy amount, and the status of each transfer.
- E-Voucher Requests: Allocate a portion of their cash subsidy to an electronic voucher for purchasing specific essential goods.
- Request History: Maintain a complete record of all their interactions and submissions within the system.
A Unified Future for Social Support
The government has announced plans to expand the Simin platform’s capabilities beyond cash subsidies. Future phases will integrate management for non-cash subsidies, including those for pharmaceuticals, wheat for farmers, energy (fuel), and other forms of state-provided livelihood assistance.
This initiative realizes the vision of a “single window” for all welfare services, underscoring the government’s commitment to public service modernization, enhanced social justice, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for its citizens.